United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) has disclosed that number of outof-school children in Sokoto state has dropped by 50 per cent between 2015 and 2017
UNICEF’s Chief Field Offi ce in charge of Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states, Muhammad Muhuiddin, made this known at a event organised in his honour by the Sokoto state government
He said the state, before now, had the highest number of outof-school children in the country, but it has now dropped by half from 69 per cent in 2015 to 37 per cent this year
According to a statement made available to newsmen by spokesman of the Sokoto state Governor, Imam Imam, the outgoing UNICEF officer said Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) for 2016-2017 showed that Sokoto has made appreciable progress, resulting in over 50 percent cut in the number
Muhuiddin said: “It gladdens my heart seeing the commitment shown by the political leadership and the technical teams set up by the government to work with UNICEF and partners in various sectors for the children of Sokoto
“We have achieved significant changes in results, and I have to say, these changes are positive, and unique in Nigeria
It is always satisfying when you implement projects and see the results and the impact these results have made
“Of special joy for me is the number of girls in schools at the moment
Th e other day, we inspected some projects in schools in Binji and in a class of 48 pupils, we saw 36 girls as against 12 boys
It was a good measure of the progress made and I urge you to sustain it”
He, however, called on the government to do more especially in the area of routine immunisation, expressing hope and optimism that the plans put together will have positive impact in the next two to four years
On his part, the Sokoto state’s Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal commended Muhuiddin for the commitment, passion and dexterity he showed while in the state, adding that the people would miss him
“We will miss you, to us, you are a friend and reliable partner who took his job of saving humanity with all the seriousness it deserves
The people and government of Sokoto state wish you success in your future assignment in Calcutta, India,” the governor said
